Combined blanket-roll, field-mattress, and clothing-bag.



PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

7 R. I. GLAPHAM. COMBINED BLANKET ROLL, FIELD MATTRESS, AND CLOTHINGBAG.

APPLICATION rILnn SEPT. 16, 1902.

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WITNESSES:

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THE "cams PETERS scvwomuwn wnsnmmom n. c.

No. 730,877 PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

R. I. CLAPHAM.

COMBINED BLANKET ROLL, FIELD MATTRESS, AND CLOTHING BAG. nrmoulon FILEDSEPT. 1a, 1902.

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WlTNESSES: 13% .4

'fl e/ By Atfome'ys,

UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

ROBERT I. OLAPHAM, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

COMBINED BLANKET-ROLL, FIELD-MATTRESS, AND CLOTHING-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,877, dated June 16,1903.

Application filed September 16, 1902. Serial No. 123.569. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT I. CLAPHAM, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn,county of Kings, city and State of New'York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in a Combined Blanket-Roll, Field-Mattress, andClothing-Bag, of which the following is a specification.

My invention aims to provide a military blanket-roll which is capable ofuse also as a field-mattress and a clothing-bag in which small articlesof baggage maybe carried. It is at once a substitute for the haversacknow ordinarily carried, a protecting-roll for the blanket, and acomfortable bed-sack. It is very light, and, being rolled with theblanket, occupies no appreciable space in a soldiers luggage. Itprovides a most convenient way of carrying small baggage, such as shoes,comb, brush, soap, towels, nnderclothes, &c., things which areordinarily carried nowadays in a Merriam pack.

Various improvements in detail are also provided, as specifiedhereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment ofthe invention, Figure 1 shows the device in use as a bed. Fig. 2 showsthe manner of transporting the same in connection with a blanket. Fig. 3shows the device laid out with an overcoat and blanket thereon ready tobe rolled up and to form a complete roll in which the blanket isentirely protected. Fig. 4 shows the same rolled up tightly. Fig. 5shows the roll with its ends brought together ready to be slung over theshoulder.

The improved military blanket-roll of my invention consists in theembodiment shown of a bag, which when fiat is of a suitable shape andsize to be rolled up around a blanket and of flexible materialthroughout, whereby when so rolled it may be doubled and slung over theshoulder, and which has a compartment at one end for-small articles ofbaggage and another compartment extending nearly its entire lengthadapted to be stuffed ;with straw or the like when in the field to forma mattress Referring now to the'drawings, the roll as a whole is seen toconsist of a double strip or sheet of canvas, duck, or rubber or othersuitable material, slightly longer and wider than an ordinaryfield-blanket folded once along the middle. The greater portion of theroll is taken up with a compartment or pocket A,

which is provided with an edge or flap B B,

whereby it is open at a side and also at an end to enable it to bereadily and completely filled with straw and permit free access to allparts of thecompartment, so that the straw may be spread out uniformlyand smoothly. Tapes 0 or other devices for closing the open edge of themattress-compartment are provided. hen the compartment is properlystuffed, the'tapes C are tied together and the its opening adjacent tothe end opening of the mattress-compartment A. The flap E of theclothing-compartment carries, preferably, tapes F at suitable intervalsalong its length. Similar tapes G are attached to the bottom of theroll. Gromets H are provided near the edge of the flap B of themattress-compartment. Bypassing the tapes G through the gromets H andtying them to the tapes F the adjacent openings of the two compartmentsare closed at a single operation. Along one edge or just inside of oneedge of the base of the roll are attached straps J, provided withbuckles K for use in strapping the roll when on the march, ashereinafter explained.

In preparing for a march the compartment D is stufied with the varioussmall articles of baggage above referred to, these being spread out asmuch as possible to avoid making the roll thick at this end. Thestuffing of the mattress is of course out, this not being carried by theindividual soldiers. The overcoat,which'is usually carried, is spread ontop of the roll in substantially the position shown at L, Fig. 3, thecape being drawn up over .the'collar and the lower corners being foldedICO to bring it to a substantially rectangular shape. Upon this isplaced the usual blanket M, folded once along a central longitudinalline. The increased thickness of the overcoat at the lower endcounterbalances to some extent the increased thickness of theclothing-compartment at the upper end. The straps .I are spread out inthe position shown in Fig. 3. If desired, the rubber cape or ponchowhich is ordinarily carried may be spread on top of the blanket; butthis is preferably carried in the belt, as shown at N, v,

Fig. 2. Starting with the parts in the position of. Fig. 3, they arerolled, starting with the upper long edge, so as to form a rollsubstantially like that shown in Fig. 4, with my improved blanket-rollon the outside to protect the blanket, overcoat, and small clothing. Thestraps J K are fastened tightly to hold it in this shape. It isimpossible now for small clothes to fall out of the compartment D or forthe blanket or overcoat to be displaced. All the baggage which thesoldier needs is carried in one bag or roll of a most convenient andlight shape. In order to sling it over his shoulder in the manner shownin Fig. 2, the ends of the long roll are brought together, Fig. 5, andtied either with an extra strap 0 or with one of the end straps J, madeof extra length for this purpose. This yoke or collar is then of just asuitable size and shape to be passed over the head and one shoulder ofthe soldier and rests on his other shoulder and under one arm, as shownin Fig. 2. Here it interferes with his movements no more than does theordinary blanket when carried in this way.

For greater convenience the clothing-compartment D may be divided intotwo or more compartments, either arranged one above the other oralongside of each other. These may by formed by merely running lines ofstitching through the walls of the compartment, or an additional flapmay be inserted in the compartment, separating it into upper and lowerportions, and the upper portion may be reserved for soft material, whichwill forma suitable pillow for the head when sleeping. The blanket Minstead of being separate from the roll AD may be stitched directlythere' toas, for example, along one of the longitudinal edges. Such anarrangement would make it possible to form the traveling-roll morequickly than with a separate blanket and would also assist in keepingthe blanket on a person sleepingon the mattress.

Where it is not necessary to carry a blanket, or in any case, thedevice-may be used without straw. The soldier may lie with his body inthe compartment A, tying the edge B to form a sleeping-bag or not, asdesired. In

fact the device may be used in a great number of ways, which willreadily suggest themselves to persons using it.

It will be seen that the invention provides a combined blanket-roll,field-mattress,and clothing-pack of great simplicity, so as to be cheap,and adapted to be easily carried and capable of usefulness in a greatvariety of ways.

Though I have described with great particularity of detail a deviceembodying my invention, yet it will be understood that the invention isnot limited to the specific device described. Various modifications ofthe same and additions thereto are possible to those skilled in the artwithout departure from the invention.

What I claim is 1. A military blanket-roll, of a size and shape suitablewhen fiat to be rolled up around ablanket, and of flexible materialthroughout whereby when so rolled it may be doubled and slung over theshoulder, and havingjat one end a smaller open compartment adapted forcarrying small articles of clothing and bag gage when on the march, anda single larger open compartment extending substantially to the oppositeend of the roll, and adapted to receive a mans body so as to serve as asleeping-bag, or to be stufi ed to form a field-mattress at night. 2. Amilitary blanket-roll, of a size and shape suitable when flat to berolled up around a blanket,and 0t flexible material throughout wherebywhen so rolled it may be doubled and slung over the shoulder, and havingat one end a smaller open compartment adapted for carrying smallarticles of clothing and baggage when on the march, and a single largercompartment open at its end and side, extending substantially to theopposite end of the roll, and adapted to receive a mans body so as toserve as a sleeping-bag, or to be stuffed to form a field-mattress atnight.

3. A military blanket-roll, consisting of a bag of a suitable size andshape when empty to be rolled up around a blanket, said bag having aclothing-compartment'at one end for small articles of baggage and acompartment extending nearlyits entire length adapted to be stuffed toform a field-mattress, said compartments openingadj acent to each otherand a single closing means for closing both said adjacent openings.

4:. A military blanket-roll, consisting of a bag of a suitable size andshape when empty to be rolled up around a blanket, said bag having aclothing-compartment atone end for small articles of baggage and acompartment extending nearly its entire length adapted to be stufied toform a field-mattress, said for carrying small articles of clothing and.baggage when on the march, and a single larger open compartmentextending substantially to the opposite end of the roll, and adapted toreceive a mans body so as to serve as a sleeping-bag, or to be stuffedto form a field-mattress, combined with a means for fasteningsaid rollin its rolled and doubled condition.

6. A military blanket-roll, of a size and shape suitable when flat to berolled up around a blanket, and of flexible material throughout wherebywhen so rolled it may be doubled and slung over the shoulder, and havingat one end a smaller open compartment adapted for carrying smallarticles of clothwitnesses. 1

ROBERT I. OLAPHAM.

Witnesses:

DOMINGO A. USINA, FRED WHITE.

